16 July
Creative arts enrichment strikes chord at Aurora Woodlands
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The growth of a creative arts provision at Aurora Woodlands School has struck a chord with pupils who are finding their voice and expressing themselves in ways that weren’t possible before.
During the past five years, the school has gone from having no creative arts to having a dedicated art space and music room.
School Principal Sarah Gregory said: “When I first came to Woodlands, there was no creative provision at all. There was art on the timetable but this was delivered at a youth centre in Blackburn. We had no art teacher, no art classroom and no music provision. I felt very strongly that this was a gap.”
To address this, Sarah identified a room that could be used as an art space and she employed specialist art teacher Paula Woolstencroft. Since then, art as a subject has grown to the point where now, pupils are excelling in their art qualifications and the school is holding its 4th annual art exhibition, staged at Darwen public library.
The school is also celebrating its first student going off to study art and design at Manchester College in September having achieved a distinction in his qualification whilst at Woodlands.
It was fortunate that, at the time Sarah was identifying the need for a music provision at Woodlands, new Teaching Assistant (now HLTA) Andrew Higginbottom joined the staff.
“Andrew’s very musically talented,” said Sarah. “He deejays, plays guitar and he sings. At Woodlands, all our HLTAs have a therapeutic strand to their role and for Andrew, this could only mean one thing - music.”
Now, three years on, Andrew said the time was right to celebrate what’s been achieved.
“When I started, there was just a dilapidated drum kit kept in the basement but now we have our own music room - The Lodge,” he said.
“We’ve invested in guitars, a drum machine, keyboards and other instruments and it’s reaping benefits with our students who are now able to access music on a daily basis and work towards an AQA qualification.”
AQA awards, formally known as the Unit Award Scheme (UAS), are nationally recognised certificates of achievement from AQA, one of the UK’s largest exam boards. Unlike traditional GCSEs or A levels, they are a flexible, exam-free way to validate smaller, step-by-step learning milestones and real-world skills.
Supporting Andrew is Therapy Co-ordinator Jessica Holden, who co-ordinates music interventions, and Teaching Assistant Michael ‘Mick’ Porter who’s both a deejay and rapper in his spare time. Andrew said: “Together, we’re building a music provision that’s engaging with more and more young learners who want to make music, whether that’s learning an instrument or using software to create it.”
Sarah cited the progress on one pupil who, through learning music at the school, had been completely transformed.
“When he came to us about eight months ago, it was clear very quickly that he wasn’t going to cope with the traditional curriculum,” said Sarah.
“Making and keeping friends was extremely difficult for him and there was a period when we had to educate him outside of the school building.
“However, the one thing that really resonated with him was writing and performing music and this is now helping him regularly attend school, engage with education and build relationships."
"Now he’s writing lyrics, music, singing and articulating his thoughts. It’s had a massive impact.”
Although she’s looking forward to a well-earned retirement this summer, Sarah said she hopes the school would continue to expand and develop its creative offering in a similar way to how teacher Greg Smalley has grown Woodlands’ Forest School.
She said: “In addition to learning about the subjects themselves, our pupils have responded to the therapeutic benefits the creative arts can deliver because they’re able to express themselves without language. It’s about growing that creative alternative – and it can be really powerful.”
